Method and apparatus for continuously harvesting grain from a row of mature grain plants comprised of plant segments and alley segments

ABSTRACT

A wheel mounted grain harvester includes a harvesting head for depositing grain in a grain handling assembly comprised of a plurality of grain moving parts. Control means are located on the harvester for selectively interrupting grain flow along the grain moving parts causing harvested grain from a new separate row segment to temporarily accumulate. Means are provided for transporting the harvested grain from separate row segments into separate collection bins permit the separate evaluation of the harvested grain in each row segment. Means are provided for moving the harvester along the row at a constant rate of speed to avoid the necessity of stopping the harvester between row segments to effect the separate evaluation of the harvested grain. The selective interruption by the control means is accomplished by either interrupting at least one of the grain moving parts or by selectively closing a movable blocking wall mounted on the harvester.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/454,122, filed Mar. 12, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Test and Research Grain Plots are planted in parallel rowsinterrupted by transverse alleys. The row segments are normallycomprised of different varieties of grain and must be separatelyharvested and not commingled. The crops are harvested by specialcombines which harvest one or several rows at a time. Such a combine isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,402. Typically, the combine harvests therow segment; and the operator stops the combine at the alleys to permitthe grain from the harvested row segment to be processed (e.g., weighed,bagged, and identified, etc.) The stopping and starting of the combineat the alleys is inefficient, hard on the combine, and hard on theoperator.

[0003] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide amethod and apparatus for continuously harvesting grain from a row ofmature grain plants comprised of plant segments and alley segments.

[0004] A further object of this invention is to enhance the harvestingoperation by speeding it up through driving the combine at a continuousand constant speed through the field.

[0005] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A wheel mounted grain harvester includes a harvesting head fordepositing grain in a grain handling assembly comprised of a pluralityof grain moving parts. Control means are located on the harvester forselectively interrupting grain flow along the grain moving parts causingharvested grain from a new separate row segment to temporarilyaccumulate. Means are provided for transporting the harvested grain fromseparate row segments into separate collection bins permit the separateevaluation of the harvested grain in each row segment. Means areprovided for moving the harvester along the row at a constant rate ofspeed to avoid the necessity of stopping the harvester between rowsegments to effect the separate evaluation of the harvested grain. Theselective interruption by the control means is accomplished by eitherinterrupting at least one of the grain moving parts or by selectivelyclosing a movable blocking wall mounted on the harvester.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical research field showing aplurality of rows (ranges) separated by transverse alleys;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the area outlinedin lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a harvesting combine and,

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side schematic elevation of a combine with a cornhead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The numeral 10 designates a research field in which row cropseeds are planted for research purposes. The planting locations of eachseed planted is designated by the numeral 12, and the plants resultingfrom the subsequent germination of the seeds are designated by thenumerals 14.

[0012] The field 10 is divided into a plurality of plots 16 which arecomprised of a plurality of parallel rows 17. The lots are located in aseries of parallel ranges 18 which are separated by laterally extendingalleys 20 (geometrically in an “x” direction) and a series oflongitudinal alleys 22 (geometrically in a “y” direction). Alleys 20 aretypically at right angles to each other. Each range has a plurality ofparallel crop rows 17 that are comprised of crop segments 17 and alleysegments 17A.

[0013] A grain harvester 21 includes a combine 22 and harvesting head 24suitable for corn with gathering chains 26 that sever the crop and moveit (e.g., ears of corn) upwardly and rearwardly. A grain transferassembly includes drag chains 30 for transporting grains from theharvesting head 24 to the combine 22. A grain handling assembly includesgrain moving parts such as cross auger 28, drag chains 30, rotors 32,cleaning system 34, clean grain auger 36, and elevator hopper 38. Asuitable power means 39 operates all of these conventional components.

[0014] A controller 41 in the cab of the combine is capable ofselectively and separately operating each of the grain moving parts byselectively actuating the power supply 39. Suitable controllers 41include but are not limited to central processing units or the like.

[0015] A blocking wall 42 is also operated by the controller 41. Theblocking wall 42 is adapted for selective vertical movement and can belocated between the cross auger 28 and head 24 to selectively stop thetravel of harvested crop to the drag chains 30. This would temporarilyinterrupt the flow of harvested crop into the combine 22. Similarly, thecontroller 41 can also selectively stop the cross auger 28, for example,to also interrupt the flow of harvested grain. When this flow isinterrupted, the harvested crop accumulates at collection area 40 untilthe controller 41 either raises blocking wall 42 or restarts the crossauger 28, or other parts that may have its operation stopped.

[0016] Blocking wall 42 may be located at alternative positions toselectively stop the travel of harvested crop. Specifically, blockingwall 42 may be positioned between the grain transferring assembly(including drag chains 30) and combine 22 portion of the harvester 21.

[0017] In operation, the harvester 21 continuously harvests grain fromat least one row of mature grain plants growing in first row segmentsand intermittently interrupted by an alley segment where no grain plantsexist. The harvester 21 straddles the row with the wheel-mounted combine22 having the harvesting head 24 to remove grain from the grain plantsin the row and delivering the removed grain upwardly and rearwardly fordeposit in the grain handling assembly comprised of the plurality ofgrain moving parts (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, & 38) for delivery of theremoved grain to a conventional grain collection hopper (not shown).Power means 39 on the harvester 21 operates the harvesting head 24 andthe grain moving parts and permitting the harvester 21 to selectivelycontinuously move longitudinally over the row segments 17 and the alleysegments 17A between the row segments 17. The control means 41 on thecombine selectively interrupts at least one of the grain moving parts assoon as the last plant in a first row segment is harvested so that nonew harvested grain from a second and next adjacent row segment will becommingled with the harvested grain from the first row segment. Thiscauses harvested grain from the second row segment to temporarilyaccumulate adjacent the grain moving part that is temporarily stopped.The control means 41 then actuates the power means 39 to start thestopped grain moving part after a period of time (or distance) while theharvesting head 24 is harvesting plants in the second row segment, andtransporting the harvested grain from separate row segments intoconventional separate collection bins (not shown) to permit the separateevaluation of the harvested grain in each row segment. Meanwhile theharvester 21 moves along the row at a continuous and constant rate ofspeed to avoid the necessity of stopping the harvester 21 at each alley17A to effect the separate evaluation of the harvested grain fromaligned separate row segments 17 in all row segments 17 adjacent eachalley 17A.

[0018] Current methods of harvesting such plots by the stop and gomethod reveal the data in Table 1. TABLE 1 Current methods Length MPHFt/sec 17.5 0.48 0.700 25 0.60 0.875 20 0.66 0.972 18 0.80 1.167 15

[0019] By contrast, the method of this invention improves the harvestingefficiency, as shown in Table 2 below. TABLE 2 Non-Stop Harvesting AlleyLength Pl. Length 24″ 30″ 36″ 42″ 48″ MPH ft/sec 17.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 0.81.173 14.92 1.71 2.13 2.56 2.98 3.41 0.9 1.319 13.27 1.52 1.90 2.27 2.653.03 1 1.466 11.94 1.36 1.71 2.05 2.39 2.73 2 2.932 5.97 0.68 0.85 1.021.19 1.36

[0020] This results in an increased efficiency in harvesting time asshown in Table 3. In Table 3, the horizontal line starting with 14.92indicates seconds per plot for the new system. The column numbersstarting with 25 represents seconds per plate under existing systems.Table 3 is calculated for a row of plants 17.5 feet in length. TABLE 3Efficiency Factors VS. 14.92 13.27 11.94 5.97 25 1.68 1.88 2.09 4.19 201.34 1.51 1.68 3.35 18 1.21 1.36 1.51 3.02 15 1.01 1.13 1.26 2.51

[0021] Tables 1-3 above show that the present invention has severaladvantages. The alleys between the plots create approximately a twosecond delay in material flow into the harvester 21. These alleys 20 canbe sensed by the control means 41 of the present invention through asensor means (not shown). Suitable sensor means include, but are notlimited to the following: Global Positioning System (GPS), stalk sensor,encoder, and/or key entry by the operator. Specifically, the sensormeans would indicate to the control means when the harvester 21 reachesthe last plant in the particular plot 16. The control means 41 wouldthen selectively interrupt the grain flow so that no new harvested grainfrom the second and next adjacent row segment will be commingled withthe harvested grain from the first row segment. The control means 41will continue this interruption for a pre-determined period, such as aperiod of time or distance. For instance, as previously discussed above,the control means 41 can selectively interrupt the flow of grain bystalling the cross auger 28. Such a stalling of the cross auger 28 couldbe accomplished by a clutch associated with the cross auger 28. Forexample, the control means 41 could activate the clutch associated withthe cross auger 28 to stall the cross auger 28 for two seconds. Such abreak in grain flow will amplify the alley 20 to produce a desirablebreak in the material flow, where the break in material flow isapproximately four seconds total. Meanwhile, additional corn is stillgathered and moved to the cross auger 28 by the gathering chains 26.Thus, approximately 30 inches of roll length or 4 to 6 ears of corn willbe gathered at cross auger 28 during the break in material flow. Thisresults in a front loading of material flow into the harvesting head 24at each plot 16. This additional front loading of the plot 16potentially improves threshing by improving the load of the cylinder.

[0022] Additionally, such a process improves data gathering, as there islittle motion in the weight hopper (not shown) when the harvester 21 ismoving at one foot per second. This type of movement would be no morethan the normal machine vibration, and is an improvement over the priorart.

[0023] Further, the present invention eliminates the need for stoppingand starting of the harvester 21 at the alleys 20, greatly reducingoperator fatigue and greatly reducing wear and tear on equipment drives.

[0024] One of ordinary skill in the art, will appreciate that air hoppercontrols may be used to increase the speed of harvester 21, withoutdeparting from the present invention. Additionally, it is contemplatedthat Near-Infrared (NIR) or other similar technology can be implementedwith the present invention where higher moisture levels are present.

[0025] It is therefore seen that this invention will achieve at leastall of its stated objectives.

1. A method of continuously harvesting grain from at least one row ofmature grain plants growing in first row segments and intermittentlyinterrupted by an alley segment where no grain plants exist, comprising:straddling the row with a wheel-mounted harvester having a harvestinghead to remove grain from the grain plants in the row and delivering theremoved grain upwardly and rearwardly for deposit in a grain handlingassembly comprised of a plurality of grain moving parts for delivery ofthe removed grain to a grain collection hopper with separate collectionbins, supplying power means on the harvester for operating theharvesting head and the grain moving parts and for permitting theharvester to selectively continuously move longitudinally over the rowsegments and the alley segments between the row segments, control meanson the combine for selectively interrupting at least one of the grainmoving parts as soon as the last plant in a first row segment isharvested so that no new harvested grain from a second and next adjacentrow segment will be commingled with the harvested grain from the firstrow segment, and causing harvested grain from the second row segment totemporarily accumulate adjacent the grain moving part that istemporarily stopped, and actuating the power means to restart thestopped grain moving part after a period while the harvesting head isharvesting plants in the second row segment, and transporting theharvested grain from separate row segments into the separate collectionbins to permit the separate evaluation of the harvested grain in eachrow segment, moving the harvester along the row at a continuous andconstant rate of speed to avoid the necessity of stopping the combine ateach alley to effect the separate evaluation of the harvested grain fromaligned separate row segments in all row segments adjacent each alley.2. The method of claim 1 wherein the grain moving part selectivelyinterrupted by the control means is a set of drag chains for gatheringharvested grain downstream of the harvesting head operatively connectedto the control means and the power means to selectively be stopped fromoperating.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the grain moving partselectively interrupted by the control mans is a cross auger forgathering harvested grain downstream of the harvesting head operativelyconnected to the control means and the power means to selectively bestopped from operating.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the finalground speed of the harvester is substantially constant in a speed rangeof 0.0700 ft/sec to 1.687 feet/second.
 5. The method of claim 1 whereinthe length of the row segments varies between 3 and 25 feet, and thelength of the alley segments varies between 12 and 48 inches.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the period is quantified by time.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the period is quantified by distance.
 8. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the combine straddles a plurality of rows andperforms the aforesaid method on each row.
 9. A wheel mounted grainharvester having a grain harvesting head capable of harvesting grainfrom mature grain plants in a row of mature grain plots comprising aplurality of longitudinal spaced row segments spaced intermittently byaligned alley segments, removing grain from the grain plants in the rowsand delivering the removed grain upwardly and rearwardly for deposit ina grain handling assembly comprised of a plurality of grain moving partsfor delivery of the removed grain to a grain collection hopper, theinvention comprising control means on the harvester for selectivelyinterrupting at least one of the grain moving parts as soon as the lastplant in a first row segment is harvested so that no new harvested grainfrom a second and next adjacent row segment will be commingled with theharvested grain from the first row segment, causing harvested grain fromthe second row segment to temporarily accumulate adjacent the grainmoving part that is temporarily stopped, and selectively restarting thestopped grain moving part after a period while the harvesting head iscapable of harvesting a first plant in the second row segment, means fortransporting the harvested grain from separate row segments intoseparate collection bins to permit the separate evaluation of theharvested grain in each row segment, and means for moving the harvesteralong the row at a continuous and constant rate of speed to avoid thenecessity of stopping the harvester at each alley to effect the separateevaluation of the harvested grain from aligned separate row segments inall row segments adjacent each alley.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9wherein the grain moving part selectively interrupted by the controlmeans is a set of drag chains for gathering harvested grain downstreamof the harvesting head operatively connected to the control means andthe power means to selectively be stopped from operating.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein the grain moving part selectivelyinterrupted by the control mans is a cross auger for gathering harvestedgrain downstream of the harvesting head operatively connected to thecontrol means and the power means to selectively be stopped fromoperating.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the period is quantifiedby time.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the period is quantifiedby distance.
 14. A wheel mounted grain harvester having a combineattached to a grain harvesting head capable of harvesting grain frommature grain plants in a row of mature grain plots comprising aplurality of longitudinal spaced row segments spaced intermittently byaligned alley segments, removing grain from the grain plants in the rowsand delivering the removed grain upwardly and rearwardly for deposit ina grain handling assembly comprised of a plurality of grain moving partsfor delivery of the removed grain to a grain collection hopper, theinvention comprising: a movable blocking wall located along the grainhandling assembly which blocks the flow of grain along the grainhandling assembly when closed, control means on the harvester forselectively closing the blocking wall as soon as the last plant in afirst row segment is harvested so that no new harvested grain from asecond and next adjacent row segment will be commingled with theharvested grain from the first row segment, causing harvested grain fromthe second row segment to temporarily accumulate adjacent blocking wall,and selectively opening the blocking wall a period while the harvestinghead is capable of harvesting a first plant in the second row segment,means for transporting the harvested grain from separate row segmentsinto separate collection bins to permit the separate evaluation of theharvested grain in each row segment, and means for moving the harvesteralong the row at a continuous and constant rate of speed to avoid thenecessity of stopping the harvester at each alley to effect the separateevaluation of the harvested grain from aligned separate row segments inall row segments adjacent each alley.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein the combine straddles a plurality of rows and performs theaforesaid method on each row.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein themovable blocking wall is mounted on the harvester between a graintransfer assembly and a combine portion of the harvester to periodicallyinterrupt the flow of harvested grain.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14wherein the movable blocking wall is mounted on the harvester between across auger and the grain transfer assembly to periodically interruptthe flow of harvested grain.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein theperiod is quantified by time.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein theperiod is quantified by distance.